Pets or Pests
The last time we went on a family trip, the dog looked at us in such a way that I promised we wouldn’t leave him behind again if we were going to stay in another place. Hotels, motels, hostels, camping grounds and even Bread and Breakfasts have woken up to the fact that some people are so attached to their pets that they will not holiday without them. So a niche market developed in which many of these accommodation places advertised them as ‘Pet Friendly’. Personally, I am not in favour of staying at those places so I am practising double standards, right? Yes, I am. The reason?
Well, our dog Bertie is rather well-behaved. It’s something I have done ever since I had my first pet, also a dog. A minimum of training so that they sit, stay (a little), don’t jump up, and eat when I say you can eat. There’s nothing worse than an animal wanting to chow down while you’re still filling the doggy bowl. I use a natural dog food which is grain-free and which Bertie seems to like a lot better than what we previously fed him. Bertie is a very spry Scottish Terrier and he has turned into a fussy sod as well. Anyway, as I was saying, he’s reasonably well-trained.
When it comes to vacations, everyone in the family wants Bertie to feel right at home. We ensure he’s up-to-date on all his shots and preventive care and also take him to a local Veterinarian for check up prior to leaving for vacation. Trust me, our commitment to his care is unwavering. Nonetheless, recognizing that unexpected health issues can arise, especially when we’re away from home, having dependable pet insurance is paramount. The option recommended by Canine Journal and the likes tend to offer a sense of security, ensuring that we can handle any unforeseen medical expenses and allowing us to immerse ourselves completely in the joy of family bonding while on vacation.
About a year back, we stumbled upon a pet-friendly destination for a long weekend getaway. When we booked we didn’t really take any notice of that aspect, and why would you? It certainly was popular, with three couples and families holidaying there with their dogs. A Springer Spaniel, a Beagle and a Yorkshire terrier were our company for the short break. Outside, with lots of room to move, the dogs were fine. Once the owners were inside, the dogs, probably used to being on the family bed, weren’t having any of that outside kennel stuff. I can only imagine the owners of these sorts of hotels must have to contact Pest Control Marion IL services and similar services in their area to get beds and carpets treated for fleas and ticks on a regular basis. I certainly wouldn’t want to sleep in a flea-infested bedroom. Howling, barking, snuffling, growling was the order of the night. Embarrassed owners having to go and placate their dogs in the middle of the night didn’t make for a joyful holiday.
Another thing was that two of the dogs were totally untrained, one of which was the Beagle. If you know anything about dogs you will know that Beagles are pretty boisterous and a bit difficult to train as well. This dog, Artie, how can we forget its name, was the pet from hell! What was worse was that the owners thought that everything Artie did was just soooo cute! For heaven’s sake! Sometimes I think we are far too polite!
So our next holiday, we decided Bertie would come with us but we might ask a few questions before we rock up to the accommodation. Such as how many have booked and how many have dogs? Oh, I better ask to make sure nobody is bringing a cat either. Bertie hates cats. That would make for an interesting holiday.